Escape

"Huff…huff…" the man gasped as he sprinted through the forest. The vines and small branches tore at his clothing and flesh. Almost as if saying that in order to flee a price must be payed. A price the man was all to willing to forfeit, as long as he could escape from It.

He desperately pushed forward urging himself as he went not to stop, not to pause and catch his breath. It was coming, and he needed to run faster for he refused to surrender his life.

It all started early on this cursed day. He was driving through the fog, down a forgotten or maybe abandoned highway. The cracked, broken, decaying road crumbled away into dirt as the fog rolled over it as if on a stroll through the town. He could hardly see, though unfortunately he did though. A figure, blurred by the fog, was standing in the middle of the battered lane and appeared so suddenly the man barely had time to react. Clamping the wheel tightly he yanked the wheel to the right… into the welcoming ditch.

Hope was dwindling from the man's soul, until a small, meager light flared up his hope. He felt his blood throbbing through his veins. His sore and battered muscles found the extra strength to push forward to make it towards the joyous light. Why? Because he knew that the despicable being would never dare touch him when another human was near.

It detested being seen by the living. It only prayed on those whose time had dwindled away. It craved the thrilling ecstasy that came from the snuffing out of its poor helpless prey. It had almost claimed him, but he escaped. He shuddered as he recalled the slight cold, empty touch that had tenderly touched his cheek. Panic swept through his body and he forced it to move, to run. To ignore the blood, the pain, the broken bones, just RUN!!!

Run to the somber forest, allow its flora to cling and claim bits and pieces of his flesh, blood and clothes. Escape from that horrid being was all that was on his mind.

Finally he reached the lone cabin snuggled amongst the archaic trees. The man pause a few feet from the door, needing to catch his haggard breath. As he paused he eventually noticed that the atrocious being, that he could feel and hear closing on him, was gone. Before he could ponder more deeply into this mystery, the cabins door gently swayed open.

The man looked toward the warm welcoming granny, who softly said, "You must be tired my child, come in I've been waiting for you."

The man blinked unsure of what he heard. She was waiting for him?

"My dear boy, aren't you tried of running?" Laughed the elderly woman. He was tired. Just these few moments of standing was straining for him. His sight was a little blurred, black spots appearing on and off.

"Dear child, there is no reason to stand gapping and confused. Come, come in," she urged him, beckoning with her hands.

Timidly the man limped up the stairs and through the door each step more difficult, agonizing than before. As he passed through the doorway he felt the comforting cold, empty touch from the grayed elder. He finally felt at peace.

FIN